2016 Programme of Measurement of Non-Ionising Radiation Emissions: Fourth Interim Report

The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) is the licensing authority for the use of the radio frequency spectrum in Ireland. The radio spectrum is used to support a wide range of applications and electronic communications services such as radio and television broadcasting, mobile telephony, emergency services communications and wireless broadband. It is a condition of various Wireless Telegraphy Licences issued by ComReg that licensees must ensure that non-ionising radiation (NIR) emissions from each transmitter operated under the licence must be within the limits set down in the guidelines published by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Levels of NIR emissions from a licensed transmitter must not exceed the ICNIRP limits in any part of the site or surrounding area to which the general public has access. This is also a condition of a General Authorisation for the provision of an electronic communications network and/or service. In order to assess compliance on the part of licensed and authorised transmitter operators with the ICNIRP Limits, ComReg has put in place a Programme of Measurement of Non-Ionising Radiation Emissions, under which NIR surveys are conducted near a sample number of licensed transmitter sites nationwide each year. Each survey involves measurement of NIR emission levels at the point of highest emissions (in a public area) associated with the transmitter. This report forms part of an ongoing series of interim reports which outline ComReg’s programme of measurements, and summarises the results of the fourth set of site surveys (20 sites) undertaken during the 2016 programme. The surveys were conducted between October and December 2016 by engineers of Compliance Engineering Ireland Ltd which was contracted by ComReg to assist it with the programme.